Details

Category: Region 3

Published: 04 April 2022

22 February 2022 – The National Nutrition Council Region III as the secretariat for the Central Luzon Regional Bantay Asin Task Force or CL-RBATF visited the Municipality of Baliwag, Bulacan to conduct a salt testing and monitoring activity as part of its role of regulation and monitoring of iodized salt in the region. The Municipal Nutrition Committee (MNC) of Baliwag, through the issuance of the “Ordinance No. 12 Series of 2018, An Ordinance Amending Section 2,3, and 4, Updating and Reorganizing Section 1-8 Including The Addition of New Sections of Ordinance No. 4, Series of 2001, entitled An Ordinance Promoting Salt Iodization Program in the Municipality of Baliwag in Pursuance of Republic Act 8172,” has proved its active role in the implementation of the Republic Act No. 8172 or ASIN Law, through the leadership and guidance of Mayor  Ferdinand V. Estrella as the Chair of the MNC, and Ms. Brenda B. Balaga, as the Municipal Nutrition Action Officer (MNAO).

Ms. Ana Maria B. Rosaldo, Regional Nutrition Program Coordinator, and Antonette Gail D. Garcia, Nutrition Officer I of NNC-Region III visited Barangay Poblacion where the Pamilihang Bayan or the public market was located and they were accompanied by MNAO Balaga and the Lingkod Lingap sa Nayon (LLN) or the Barangay Nutrition Scholars (BNS) of Baliwag, Bulacan. Salt samples were collected from various sources such as: 1) supermarkets and groceries; 2) public market and sari-sari stores; and 3) randomly-selected households. A total of 20 different salt samples were collected from five (5) households; four (4) sari-sari stores; one (1) from public market; and 10 samples from three (3) different grocery stores.

Salt samples collected were tested using an iodine checker. Findings showed that 9 out of 20 or 45% of the samples collected passed the acceptable range for iodine which is 35-70 parts per million (ppm) iodine per 1 gram of salt sample (household – 1, sari-sari store – 1, grocery store – 7), while the rest, 11 out of 20 or 55% did not meet the acceptable range for iodine. The salt testing team also noted that salt samples that were in the acceptable iodine levels were all branded and labeled as “iodized.” Although it has also been observed that not all the salt samples labeled as “iodized” had acceptable iodine levels. Full results can be found in the table below:

Ms. Rosaldo and Ms. Garcia also met with Mayor Estrella to express their gratitude to his continuous support, not only to the salt monitoring activities, but to all the nutrition programs implemented in the Municipality of Baliwag. Ms. Rosaldo also presented a Pinggay Pinoy plate and nutrition IEC materials as tokens of gratitude to Mayor Estrella. Advocacy information materials such as flyers on Bye Bye Bansot sa Barangay, Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition, 2017-2022, Regional Plan of Action for Nutrition, 2018-2022 and First 1,000 Days and a book on The Ascent of Local Governments in Nutrition in the Philippines – A Compendium of Actions on Nutrition were also given to Mayor Estrella as reference in further strengthening the implementation of nutrition and nutrition-related programs in the municipality through the adoption of  good practices of other local government units.

Results of the salt testing and monitoring activity held will be reported during the  Second Quarter meeting of the RBATF on 19 April 2022.

Author: Antonette Gail D. Garcia, Nutrition Officer I

Details

Category: Region 3

Published: 23 February 2022

By: Ms. Marie Joy S. Carbungco

CITY OF SAN FERNANO, Pampanga (PIA)– National Nutrition Council (NNC) Central Luzon will spearhead a webinar focusing on proper health and nutrition in early years. 

The webinar dubbed “Early Child Care and Development—First 1000 Days Webinar: Bida ang May Alam!” is part of the strategy to beef up advocacy on the First 1000 Days Act and promote good health and nutrition in the early years. 

NNC 3 Regional Nutrition Program Coordinator Ana Maria Rosaldo said the activity aims to deepen the understanding of the participants on the different laws that were crafted to improve the quality of life of children through proper health and nutrition. 

“While it is true that such laws are in place, the emphasis on positive outcomes that this entails should be accompanied by understanding of the said laws and commitment to enact them. And this should start among the health and nutrition implementers, such as the nutrition action officers, nutrition program coordinators, and the barangay nutrition scholars, in Central Luzon,” Rosaldo said. 

The webinar will tackle RA 10410 or the Early Years Act, which promotes the rights of children to survival, development, and special protection. 

Rosaldo said the discussion will focus on the Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) council and the role of different stakeholders at the national and local levels to come up with comprehensive, integrative, and sustainable approach to address the needs of 0-4 years old, and of 5-8 years old. 

Aside from that, RA 11148 or the Kalusugan at Nutrisyon ng Mag-Nanay Act will also be discussed to address health and nutrition problems of newborn, infants and young children, pregnant and lactating mothers, and adolescent females. 

“It seeks to scale up national and local health and nutrition programs through a strengthened integrated strategy for maternal, neonatal, and child health and nutrition in the first 1000 days of life, since the obvious connection of the health and nutrition of the mother and child is recognized to be ritical for their total well-being,” the NNC official said. 

The webinar will be held on February 24, 2022 at 2:00PM via Zoom and will also be livestreamed via NNC Region III’s Facebook Page. 

Details

Category: Region 3

Published: 09 March 2022

 By Marie Joy S. Carbungco

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga (PIA) — National Nutrition Council (NNC) Central Luzon convened nutrition workers and other stakeholders to strengthen its advocacy on early child care and development, as well as the First 1,000 Days. 

During the webinar, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) 3 Regional Director and Regional Nutrition Committee (RNC) Member Marites Maristela stressed the importance of proper nutrition among members of the family, especially during this time of pandemic. 

“When members of the family are healthy, we have more protection against any disease or virus that we encounter as we go along…But of course, since children are more vulnerable to diseases, there is a need to give focus on their health and nutrition,” she said. 

Maristela added that it is important to discuss issues on health and nutrition as this is just one of the many issues that children face when it comes to their right to survival.

During the webinar, Regional Council for the Welfare of Children (RSCWC) 3 Coordinator Aple Shane Lomoljo discussed the salient features of  Republic Act 10410 or the Early Years Act.

In her talk, she presented the National System for Early Child Care and Development (ECCD), giving emphasis on the recognition of other ECCD learning modalities aside from Day Care Centers; as well as the recognition of other paraprofessionals and volunteers. 

“The active involvement of parents, especially that most children are stay-at-home during pandemic, is crucial in the total development of a child. There is also a need to establish functional ECCD councils at the local level in order to ensure continuous service delivery,” she said. 

Lomoljo also discussed the roles of local government units in the implementation of the law, especially in terms of budget augmentation, provision of facilities, and establishment of community based ECCD programs. 

Meanwhile, NNC 3 Regional Nutrition Program Coordinator Ana Maria Rosaldo discussed the salient features of RA 11148 or the Kalusugan at Nutrisyon ng Mag-Nanay Act. 

“It is important that LGUs support this law while at the same time strengthening family community support systems as this aims to secure the country’s future in the hands of healthy women and children,” she said.

Rosaldo also discussed the key provisions of the law, as well as the role of LGUs to ensure the integration of nutrition services for the first 1,000 days. 

Lastly, she called on participants to strengthen service delivery, and monitoring and evaluation by advocating for a whole-of-government approach to health and nutrition. 

Details

Category: Region 3

Published: 21 February 2022

On December 23, 2021, Regional Director (RD) James O. Ponce of Department of Agrarian Reform Regional Office III (DAR RO III) and Regional Nutrition Program Coordinator (RNPC) Ana Maria B. Rosaldo of the National Nutrition Council Region III (NNC R3) signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the implementation of Tutok Kainan Supplementation Program (TKSP). Settling the MOU with the DAR RO III is one step towards the start of the TKSP as it is part of the program’s social preparation component.

DAR RO III Assistant Regional Director (ARD) Atty. Odgie C. Cayabyab gave the opening remarks where he shared that their office is excited to work hand-in-hand with the NNC RO III in reducing the prevalence of malnutrition in Nueva Ecija Province. After ARD Cayabyab’s message, RNPC Rosaldo discussed the brief overview of the activity and of the TKSP. She also took the opportunity to welcome DAR RO III as the new member of Central Luzon Regional Nutrition Committee.

Provincial Nutrition Focal Person Celestine Joy L. Membrebe discussed the content of the MOU before the actual conduct of the ceremonial signing of MOU where RNPC Rosaldo and RD Ponce served as the first and second party, respectively. This was witnessed by Chief Agrarian Reform Program Officer (CARPO) Iluminado D. Ocampo and Nutrition Officer (NO) III Angelita M. Pasos. Department of Health Central Luzon Center for Health Development Nutritionist-Dietitian (ND) IV Margarita C. Santos-Nativiidad, DAR Provincial Office of Nueva Ecija Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer (PARPO) II Eden B. Ponio and ARD Cayabyab were also present during the said ceremonial signing.

RD Ponce and PARPO II Ponio gave their commitment of support. In the speech of RD Ponce, he emphasized the important role of TKSP in achieving the goal of Enhance Partnership Against Hunger and Poverty (EPAHP) Program and ensure that DAR RO III will provide support until the end of the program. On the other hand, PARPO III Ponio guaranteed that DARPO of Nueva Ecija will assist NNC Region III to have a smooth partnership with the Agrarian Reform Beneficiary Organizations (ARBOs).

The ceremony was closed with a message delivered by CARPO Ocampo. In his message, he thanked the attendees for witnessing the formalization of DAR RO III’s commitment in implementing TKSP. He also looks forward to a pleasant working relationship between DAR RO III and NNC RO III.

The MOU highlights the objective of TKSP and the roles and responsibilities of both parties. One of the responsibilities of DAR RO III is to facilitate the linking of ARBOs and NNC Region III in Nueva Ecija Province since they will serve as NNC RO III’s partner in terms of marketing their commodities needed for hot meals.

In line with this responsibility, DAR RO III with the help of DARPO Nueva Ecija, gathered the ARBOs that can be possible partners of NNC RO III. Six (6) ARBOs were convene last October 25, 2021 but on October 28, 2021, only four of them signified their interest to partner with NNC R3. The four (4) ARBOs are the: Golden Beans and Grains Producers Cooperative, Golden Harvest of Talavera Multi-purpose Cooperative, Liberty Fisherman and Farmers Association, and Panabingan Multi-purpose Cooperative.

On December 28, 2022, a ceremonial signing of Marketing Agreements (MA) between these four (4) ARBOs was held to formalize their commitment as part of the TKSP. In this event, PARPO II Ponio delivered the welcome message and shared her own translation of the song “Seasons of Love.” Using the song as metaphor, she encouraged everyone to measure a year not in terms of time but by love. She mentioned that as the ARBOs agreed to take part in TKSP, they also form part of the government’s advocacy to help the marginalized and the vulnerable group, which will show their love for their community.

PNFP Membrebe provided the overview of the activity where she discussed its background and its objectives. She also gave updates on the progress of TKSP in Nueva Ecija. While NPC Rosaldo discussed the obligations of the NNC RO III and the ARBOs which were also reflected in the MA. After this, the ceremonial signing of MA per ARBO followed.

Read more: NNC 3 sealed Partnership with DAR 3 and ARBOs for the Tutok Kainan Supplementation Program

Details

Category: Region 3

Published: 26 February 2022

By: Ms. Marie Joy S. Carbungco (PIA)

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga (PIA) -- National Nutrition Council (NNC) Central Luzon will spearhead an advocacy meeting focusing on the preparation of local nutrition action plan (LNAP) at the barangay level. 

NNC 3 Regional Nutrition Program Coordinator Ana Maria Rosaldo said the activity primarily aims to deepen the understanding and appreciation of the importance of investing in nutrition and inclusion of  nutrition programs in the local development and investments plans among local chief executives and punong barangays. 

“We recognize that despite our efforts, there are still punong barangays who demand for further explanation of the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition (PPAN) and how to integrate this in their programs. Thus, there is a need to advocate nutrition among the punong batangays, in order to scale up their actions and strategies in attaining the goals of the PPAN,” she said. 

Through the activity, NNC will guide barangays in the formulation of their respective LNAPs in order to address stunting, wasting, overweight, and obesity, which are all common forms of malnutrition among children in Central Luzon. 

“The PPAN was translated to the Regional Plan of Action for Nutrition (RPAN) to specifically address the nutrition problems in Central Luzon. With this, it is necessary that barangays formulate their LNAPs since it should include activities focusing on achieving the nutrition goals and objectives of their area based on their respective nutrition situations,” Rosaldo said. 

The webinar will tackle an overview of the PPAN as well as an introduction on nutrition program management. 

Discussion of plan preparation and adoption to further orient participants on the importance of LNAP formulation will be the highlight of the said activity.  

The webinar will be held on February 28, 2022 at 8:00AM via Zoom and will also be livestreamed via NNC Region III’s Facebook Page.